This job in Pontypool was all about slabs and gravel. Outside a pair of white French doors, we laid a new patio of sandstone with strong colour: rust, plum, olive green and grey, sometimes within a single slab. A deep slab step sits under the doors so they open onto a proper landing.
The paving runs down the side of the house towards the lattice-topped fence and a small lawn at the far end. Between the slabs and the brick boundary wall, with its black metal gates, we left a strip of pale gravel. Down a narrow passage between a fence and the house wall, we laid a gravel path.
Why gravel alongside the slabs
Gravel earns its place in a garden like this. The margin by the boundary wall keeps the paving away from the base of the brickwork, lets rain soak away at the edge, and saves cutting slabs to follow the line of the wall. It also gives a softer border between the stone and the hard brick.
Gravel also suits a narrow side passage like this one. A weed membrane went down first, then a generous layer of golden gravel on top, contained by the brick edging along the fence line. It drains freely and is easy to top up. Where the passage meets the garden, slate chippings carry on round the corner.
Laying colourful sandstone
Stone with this much variation needs a bit of thought as it goes down. Slabs are laid out and mixed before bedding, so the rust and green pieces are spread across the area rather than bunched together, and the sizes are varied to keep the random pattern natural.
Like any patio, it depends on what sits beneath it: a compacted base, a full mortar bed and a fall so water runs away from the doors. There is more on that in how a patio should be laid, and more on stone choices on our Indian sandstone paving page. For everything we lay, see patio slabbing and paving, and for local gardens, landscaping in Pontypool.
Questions About This Job
Do I need a membrane under a gravel path?
It is worth having. A weed membrane stops the gravel sinking into the soil and cuts down on weeds coming through, while still letting water drain.
Why does my sandstone have different colours in one slab?
Natural sandstone forms in layers, and many types show bands of rust, green or plum. That variation is part of its character and no two slabs match exactly.
Is gravel good by a house wall?
A gravel strip by a wall helps rain soak away rather than splashing up the brickwork, and it keeps paving from sitting hard against the base of the wall.
Can you lay slabs and gravel in one visit?
Yes, a patio and gravel paths are often done together. Get in touch and Tony and the team will give you a free quote for the whole job.
